Ontario RPNs and Unions

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Specializes in complex care.

Is anyone else frustrated with the way unions are handling RPNs? The pay difference between the RPN and RN has greatly increased (It used to be $5.00) The RPN's scope of practice has increased tremendously however, the RN's are now making an astonishing $14.00 per hour more. ITS NOT THE EDUCATION LEVEL, RPN's are now educated with a two year diploma as are 80% of RN's in Ontario - so what's up with the exorbitant pay difference?

Is anyone out there lobbying this outrage - I'm sick of unions telling us thatwe are "cost effective" - CHEAP LABOUR with 80% of the skills of an RN.

villers

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I hear ya!! I think that it is disgraceful that they increased the education requirements for an RPN but neglected to give RPNs a raise. But what can we do?

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

I think that some of the problem is that the RPN unions are too scattered and mixed in with other occupations. The RN union is ONA and it represents all RN's in Ontario and they do far more advocating for their members. It is very frustrating and it must change. I also think that as RPN's, there is a need for far more political action and general lobbying and I think the time is now because like it or not many hospitals in the GTA have slowly stopped using RPN's to their scope or at all. If you go on the RPNAO website there is an article on the issues at Wm. Osler in regards to RPN's who have been either displaced or let go altogether.:angryfire

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Well can someone let me know why RPNs are in lower demand, because there seem to be a whole lot of unfilled (and unfillable!) RN jobs posted. Also, why do I see so many casual and part time jobs posted? With the shortage, no applicants are paying serious attention to these, are they?

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Is anyone else frustrated with the way unions are handling RPNs? The pay difference between the RPN and RN has greatly increased (It used to be $5.00) The RPN's scope of practice has increased tremendously however, the RN's are now making an astonishing $14.00 per hour more. ITS NOT THE EDUCATION LEVEL, RPN's are now educated with a two year diploma as are 80% of RN's in Ontario - so what's up with the exorbitant pay difference?Is anyone out there lobbying this outrage - I'm sick of unions telling us thatwe are "cost effective" - CHEAP LABOUR with 80% of the skills of an RN.villers[/QUOT4 years later ; its time to take a stand.
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4 years later.........Its time.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Part of the difficulty is that it's the college fo nurses that determines our scope. They keep adding things to our list of responsibilities but they have nothing to do with our wages. That's up to the folks bargaining our contracts.I agree things are badly out of whack.

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We need a RPN union badly. Glad this thread is reopened!

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Are you not in a unionized position? I am a member of the SEIU.

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Im part of a union- the Canadian auto workers union. Hospitals still get referred to as plants occasionally

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Specializes in NICU.

Is ONA not a union for RPNs? I have seen them mention handling RPNs (VERY briefly) on their website. Im still a student, and I have been frustrated how all the unions and associations are all RN. I visit these websites and its like RN RN RN RN in bold letters everywhere and RPN in tiny type in the corner (im using an analogy). Who advocates for RPNs besides RPNAO? The resources RPNAO seems to have is tiny compared to RNAO. RNAO has awesome groups and benefits for students but I cant find anything similar for PN students. Even at my school there is a group for the BScN students which holds fun events and formals....but nothing for PN students.

Its very frustrating, and I haven't even entered the profession yet so I'm sure I know nothing about how it really is!

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Is ONA not a union for RPNs? I have seen them mention handling RPNs (VERY briefly) on their website. Im still a student, and I have been frustrated how all the unions and associations are all RN. I visit these websites and its like RN RN RN RN in bold letters everywhere and RPN in tiny type in the corner (im using an analogy). Who advocates for RPNs besides RPNAO? The resources RPNAO seems to have is tiny compared to RNAO. RNAO has awesome groups and benefits for students but I cant find anything similar for PN students. Even at my school there is a group for the BScN students which holds fun events and formals....but nothing for PN students.

Its very frustrating, and I haven't even entered the profession yet so I'm sure I know nothing about how it really is!

ONA - Ontario Nurses Association, is strictly for RN's. In Ontario I think it is really just the RPNAO, and now YOU ;)

I think the ''events'' at your school, lacking for the PN's is the difference in the four year university and two year college program. University is more of an experience. The two years is really not a lot of time to develop those types of people who get really involved and plan things.

I don't care that i did not have dance's. We were a really tight group. We had bar nights, went for dinner and became friends, truly with everyone in the program. I found that to be a big difference between the PN and BN programs. The BN's had less of a community, more 'few close friends'.

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